Random Acts of Kindness

I'm stepping back here a little bit...as I had wanted to thank the beautiful people of Cornish, Maine who came to my aid at the time of the accident and in the days that followed.

We had our dog, Sheriff, with us in the car and when Amanda came to be by my side until the paramedics arrived she had asked if anyone else was in the car - other than myself and Troy. I told her our dog. She called for her son, Jesse, I believe, to get the dog. This nice boy went and picked up Sheriff, who was near the car and unhurt, and came over to me and knelt down to let me know Sheriff was okay. He was shivering and Jesse told me he would take Sheriff to the house to keep him warm. Later that evening a nurse delivered me a message that Amanda and her family would watch Sheriff until I could get him, not to worry that he was fine, and left phone numbers for me to call them. The next day I did make a call to their home and Amanda was so reassuring that they had no problem watching Sheriff. I couldn't believe how kind and generous Amanda and her family were! They didn't know me, they had just put my needs ahead of theirs.

On Monday, I also called Joe at the funeral home to see what I needed to do for Troy and give him information. I mentioned to Joe that there had been photo equipment in the car and also that I had a cat at the farmhouse. He told me he knew the tow-truck operator who had taken our vehicle and would make arrangements to get the important items out of the car and hang onto them until I returned. He also volunteered to go to the house to check on Handsome. Again, this was someone whom I had never met and who took time from his busy schedule to help me.

The nurses and other staff at Maine Medical Center went above and beyond the call of duty to make me comfortable, offered words of strength and understanding and also allowed me to make and receive calls at all hours of the day and night. My nurse the first night in the hospital, Ruthie, shared with me a story of personal loss and told me that she would be thinking of me every day for the next whole month. On Monday my room was a revolving door of counselors, mental health professionals, nursing staff and social workers. They wanted to do all they could for me - physically, emotionally and mentally - it was truly amazing to feel such an outpouring of support. Even the switchboard operator, Kimberly, brought me a lovely vase of flowers, as she had heard my story from numerous friends and family from across the country, but felt so bad that I didn't have someone there in Maine to be by my side. After the doctor visited with me on Monday afternoon and explained more about my injuries, that they needed time to heal, but that I didn't have to remain in the hospital, he also told me he knew of my situation of losing my husband in the accident and that my family and friends were out of state (but some on the way to be with me). He said to me that if I needed to stay in the hospital for a week until I was comfortable leaving, that there was a bed for me and not to worry. Can you imagine? A doctor and hospital who treated me in a holistic manner...not just my body, but my heart, mind and soul, as well??

These were difficult days, but without the help and support of these amazing people they would have been much harder to get through.

Thank You!
With deepest gratitude,
Lori

1998-2001

After we moved from Juneau we rented in Silverdale, Washington and then in Astoria, Oregon. During the time in Washington we owned two more sailboats (both great deals that we fixed up and resold). We went out whenever we could, mostly weekends, and sailed near home and Puget Sound. We made our first "big" summer trip (2 weeks) to the San Juan Islands. This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! Friday Harbor is a quaint town and the entire island chain is so picturesque.

These years were a little less adventurous for us, as Troy was experiencing more back pain and ended up having surgery (lumbar discectomy) in November 2000. I also was under the weather with a non-functioning gallbladder and had that removed in July 2001. Luckily, we both recovered quite well from our surgeries.

On May 26, 2001 we did manage to climb Mt. St. Helens (coincidentally my 29th birthday). This was something we weren't at all trained for, but you know how Troy was, he had that "let's get the gear and go do it!" attitude. We drove the day before, put up the tent and camped with the rest of the climbers. We heard that the right way to do it was to get up and on the trail by 4am -- I think we were up around 7am! It took us 5 hours to climb up and the last few hundred yards were straight up, but when we got to the top and looked down and around it was so worth it. From the summit you can see into Spirit Lake, which is still filled with downed trees from the eruption in 1980. Going down the mountain only took 2 hours as we took the advice of others and "glisaded" down. If you don't know of this technique, you sit your butt down on the snow and GO!! The trails were already in place and let me tell you, it was fun!! Troy and I joked later that we wanted to be taken by helicopter to the top just so we could go down again.

lco

From the Schumachers

We would like to share a memory we hold dear to our hearts of Troy when he was a young boy. When we moved to Rapid City from Hill City, our daughter, Karri, started third grade at Annie Tallent. She had a rocky start because of some bullying from a group of boys. One day on the playground, this group of boys took Karri's lunchbox from her and began kicking it around. Another boy stepped up to her defense and told them to leave her alone and when they asked him "why and what's it to you," he answered them by saying she was his sister. Because this boy was apparently well liked and also an upper classman (maybe a 5th grader), they backed off. For days afterwards, this boy would watch over her on the playground or walk her to class to make sure she was not bothered. Karri had no idea who he was, but when she told us his name was Troy O'Neill, we certainly knew who he was and were very thankful. The world is so small at times!

We are sure Troy was a wonderful son as he certainly was a wonderful young man. We know you will miss him terribly, and we will pray that your precious memories of him will give you comfort and peace until you meet again.

Gary & Shirley Schumacher

(from a letter sent to Gary & Sharon Tschetter, printed here with permission)

Stories & Comments

Don't forget that you can add your stories and/or comments to the blog at anytime! I've opened up the blog to members and non-members alike - either way is easy and it's quick and free to become a member, too.

If posting isn't working, just email me your story: twolcfo@yahoo.com or you can send me a note: 2210 Tedesca Drive, Henderson, NV 89052, and ask that it be posted on the blog.

Thanks again for all your comments and support.

I'll write more soon!

Love, Lori

North to Alaska!

When Troy and I returned from Europe in 1994 we spent a few months in Arizona near my father, Rick. I think we didn't want to head back to RC and "settle down" and the trip overseas had just wet our appetite for adventure! While in Scottsdale we watched episode after episode of Northern Exposure and just loved that show (still do). We knew it wasn't filmed in Alaska -- Washington state, actually -- but if the people were anything like they portrayed them on TV we just had to go and see for ourselves.

We packed our little car with everything that would fit and our dog, Hogan (a boxer puppy) and started driving. Troy used to say that we drove the speed limit of the heat that day, which was 114, and honestly, I think it was pretty close. We spent a day or two in Portland with my parents and then drove up to Vancouver, BC. It was here that our car engine caught fire. I remember Troy was driving and I had one hand on the dog and the other on the door handle! We finally made it to the edge of town, with smoke billowing out from under the hood, and parked for the night in a church lot. We figured we'd be pretty safe there and hopefully no police would come and kick us out. The next morning we found a garage that would take cash for our new engine - and offer no receipt! - and so we left the car there and walked to a nearby motel. The funny thing (or not so funny at the time), was that we had less than $2000 for the rest of our trip and to get a place to live when we arrived. I nervously called my parents and asked for a loan of $800 to cover the engine cost. I think they were nervous as well - they really didn't know Troy and here we were, two young lovers, unmarried, with next to nothing and no money, driving to Alaska. Regardless, they did wire the money and a few days later we were off and running...again.

When we arrived in Skagway we had to get on the ferry to Juneau. We pulled up to the ferry parking line and discovered we had about five hours before boarding. It had been an awful long few days and we headed on foot to the Red Onion - a famous Skagway bar. By the time we had to get back to the car to load it on the ferry we were pretty blitzed! I remember once we got aboard the ferry it was around 10:00 pm and before we left the harbor the captain announced that the northern lights were viewable from the front deck. I'm not sure if it was the excitement of being in Alaska or the alcohol, but those were the most beautiful Aurora Borealis colors we had ever seen!!

In Juneau we lived in a tent for 6 weeks then rented an RV for another month. On December 1st we finally moved into a small apartment on Douglas Island (just west of Juneau a few miles, accessible by bridge). That Christmas we were too poor for a tree and all the trimmings, but I remember Troy brought home a poinsettia from the store about a week before the holiday and we used that instead of a tree. We also bought a sofa as our gift to and from each other. That was a very memorable Christmas and one I won't forget.

Juneau was fabulous! We met lots of great people and established life-long friendships. Some are still in Juneau, others have moved to the Lower 48. We also began our sailboat adventures in Juneau...first with a small 19 foot boat (that we didn't live on) and then with a 30 foot live-aboard sailboat. We spent our summer weekends traveling to nearby harbors with friends and the yacht club (even though I don't think we ever became official members!). We learned the hard way what the wind could and couldn't do. Troy was famous in Juneau for getting a speeding ticket in the harbor on his little inflatable dingy -- which had an engine twice the HP that was recommended -- naturally!

Troy and I were married in a double ceremony with Sharon and Gary (Troy's mom and stepdad) at the Shrine of St. Therese on March 25, 1995. It was a beautiful spring day with lots of snow that had fallen just the night before.

We adopted our second 4-legged kid, Handsome, the cat, in August 1995. He's been a great companion and trooper - living aboard, traveling by boat, car and plane numerous times and (so far) he's lived in about a dozen different towns. (We had given Hogan to some people we met in Juneau before moving onto the sailboat.)

We left Juneau in September 1997, but still had the passion for sailing and it didn't stop there.

I'll always have a special fondness for Juneau as that's the place where Troy and I started our married life together. I hope to visit there again someday soon..

lco